Primary Inversion: A Novel of the Skolian Empire

The Skolian Empire rules a third of the civilized galaxy through its mastery of faster-than-light communication. But war with the rival empire of the Traders seems imminent, a war that can only lead to slavery for the Skolians or the destruction of both sides. Destructive skirmishes have already occurred. A desperate attempt must be made to avert total disaster.

Star Carrier: Lost Colonies, Book 3

Earth builds her first war fleet! The greatest warships ever constructed in known space rise up one by one, soon dominating our skies. They strike fear into the hearts of every citizen and rebel colonist alike. Captain William Sparhawk, the very man who convinced the secretive Council to build this terrifying fleet, now has doubts about the project. What is their exact mission? How could anyone have built these huge ships so quickly? And, most puzzling of all, what's happening out at the isolated laboratory complex on Phobos, Mars' lopsided moon?

Aurora in Four Voices (Illinois Science Fiction in Chicago Press)

This collection of Catherine Asaro's show fiction contains five stories, including the Nebula Award-winning novella, Spacetime Pool, the Hugo and Nebula nominated novella Aurora in Four Voices, and an essay on Asaro's use of mathematics in her fiction.

Undercity

In the galaxy-spanning future, Major Bhaajan is a tough female P.I. who works the dangerous streets of Undercity. Major Bhaajan, a former military officer with Imperial Space Command, is now a hard-bitten P.I. with a load of baggage to deal with, and clients with woes sometimes personal, sometimes galaxy-shattering, and sometimes both. Bhaajan must sift through the shadows of dark and dangerous Undercity - the enormous capital of a vast star empire - to find answers.

Artemis

Philip Palmer, the best-selling author of Hell Ship, crafts science fiction works that have earned him a reputation as one of the best in the business. In Artemis, con artist and killer Artemis McIvor took the collapse of the galactic government as the opportunity to go on a crime spree to end all crime sprees. But when the law finally catches up to her, she’s given a choice: spend the rest of her life cooling her heels in prison or accept a deadly mission to save all of humanity.

The Veiled Web

Ballerina Lucia del Mar has two great passions: dance, which consumes most of her waking hours, and the Internet, which brings the outside world into her tightly regimented life. These two passions collide when a White House performance and reception leads to an encounter with handsome Moroccan businessman Rashid al-Jazari, creator of a brilliant technology that has set the Internet rumor mill ablaze.

Insidious: FBI Thriller, Book 20

Venus Rasmussen, a powerful eighty-six-year-old woman who still runs Rasmussen Industries, an international conglomerate, believes someone is poisoning her. After Savich and Sherlock visit with her, someone attempts to shoot her in broad daylight. Who's trying to kill her and why? A member of her rapacious family, or her grandson who's been missing for ten years and suddenly reappears? Savich and Sherlock must peel away the layers to uncover the incredible truth about who would target Venus.

Battle Cruiser: Lost Colonies, Book 1

One starship will either save Earth or destroy her. A century ago our star erupted, destroying Earth's wormhole network and closing off trade with her colonized planets. After being out of contact with the younger worlds for so many years, humanity is shocked when a huge ship appears at the edge of the solar system. Our outdated navy investigates, both curious and fearful. What they learn from the massive vessel shocks the planet.

Dragonflight: Dragonriders of Pern

On the beautiful planet Pern, colonized for centuries, Land Holders and Craftsmen have traditionally tithed food and supplies to the dragonweyrs to which they are bound. In times past, the mighty telepathic dragons and their riders were the only protection from the dreaded, life-threatening Thread. Now those times may be returning....

The Pride of Chanur: Chanur, Book 1

No one at Meetpoint Station had ever seen a creature like the Outsider. Naked-hided, blunt toothed and blunt-fingered, Tully was the sole surviving member of his company -- a communicative, spacefaring species hitherto unknown -- and he was a prisoner of his discoverer/captors the sadistic, treacherous kif, until his escape onto the hani ship The Pride of Chanur.

Off Armageddon Reef: Safehold Series, Book 1

When Earth herself lay under siege by an enemy humankind could not defeat, mankind undertook one last throw of the dice: Operation Ark. Earth's final colonizing expedition was meant to build a new civilization, on a planet so distant even the Gbaba might never find it, and without the high-tech infrastructure whose emissions might betray its location.

The Charmed Sphere: Lost Continent, Book 1

Once Chime had been the most promising mage in the land, feted and celebrated for her potential and future role in the kingdom. Then Iris, her young competitor, made a stunning leap in skill and turned Chime's world upside down. Now no longer the most powerful, no longer promised to a prince - and still unable to harness her magic properly - Chime was set adrift. As was the new king's cousin - and former heir - Lord Muller.

Publisher's Summary

Two-time Nebula Award winner Catherine Asaro takes her immensely popular Skolian Empire saga to new heights. The renegade son of the Ruby Dynasty, Del prefers rock music to interstellar politics. His singing career has recently gained momentum on Earth, which has an uneasy relationship with his family's empire. But with intergalactic tensions running high, Del finds it harder and harder to avoid family expectations.

While it's true that this gives a view of what a rock star's life might be like, for those who've enjoyed the Skolian saga, there are many small pieces that come together. I like the narrator, though I am sorry that he had to try to sing; his gift is effective reading.

I was able to listen to the entire novel, in spite of the reader's obligation to simulate soaring rock and roll without actually trying to sing. I enjoyed the cheeky concept; pouty rock star saves the galaxy.

If it was re-mixed w/ the soundtrack by Point Valid, sure. The narrative is quite engaging (I listened to all 21 hrs over 3 days) but the lyrical parts rattled my Bliss node. They're a key part of the story but were hard to grasp w/o rewinding.

What other book might you compare Diamond Star to and why?

None, as Ms. Asaro's style is anything but formulaic. It's a silly question; there may be a comparable plot and/or character somewhere on audible but it's not in my library (1200+). I look forward to one day re-reading the Saga, this time chronologically.

What didn’t you like about Andy Paris’s performance?

I think he did fine, except for the songs, given the character's extraordinary talent. They should have incorporated samples from the soundtrack (yes, there is a CD) or had Mr. Paris read them like poetry. Usually music in audio books are distracting, dissonant but this novel cries out for it!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Can't say w/o spoilers but, for me, this book touched my emotions more than any I've read in some time. The family dynamic of the royals are not that different than our own, except in the details.

Any additional comments?

Not your typical SciFi, as has more character, less action. But for fans of the Saga, it explores the Allied's mindset & corporate politics, and the complex relations in the Ruby family.

Horrible reading, but at 1.25x it is at least listenable... aside from his other deficiencies the long pauses really make the book unlistenable. At least at 1.25 the pauses sound normal. I don't get how the powers that be can who make these audiobooks take great material and botch it like this.... Anna Fields the original reader of the first books in the series was amazing, then flip flopping from one terrible reader to the next is really dissapointing. At least Suzanne Toren, the reader of 2 of the last 3 books is reasonable. JUST STICK WITH HER PLEASE!!!

Please please please change the narrator for this book!! I am begging!!! By Chapter 4 I was ready to give up. Absolutely the worst reading ever - cannot tell when regular text and when dialog as the tone of his voice hardly changes. The pace is simply dismal. He is ruining an otherwise good book and makes it sound boring and confusing. I miss Anna Fields :(

This was almost too painful to finish. The narrator shouldn't have tried to sing and really didn't have to. There was one part where he just read the lyrics and it was much more dignified. He was a good narrator but can't carry a tune in a bucket. Don't think I didn't catch the shameless plug for Point Valid in there. I am a real fan of the Skolian Universe but this book was slow, predicable...it almost felt like Asaro was distracted or just writing one more to make the rent or something. I was disappointed, you probably got that huh?

This is not sci-fi but a groupie's version of what a musician's life must be like. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn't. The worst part was feeling an overwhelming sense of embarrassment for Catherine Asaro as I listened.